CORN OIL
Corn or maize (Zea mays L.) originates from both North and South America. It is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated all over the world next to rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum spp.). A large percent of the corn grains is processed and fed to animals.
Corn is also used for human consumption, fresh or dried and grounded into flour, being an important ingredient in various dishes around the world. Only a small fraction of the corn is used for obtaining corn oil. Corn oil (maize oil) is obtained from seeds (kernels) that only contain 3-5% oil. Usually, oil is extracted from the wet milled germ using a heating process, followed by mechanical expelling and hexane extraction.
PROPERTIES OF CORN OIL
The important properties of corn oil include its pleasing flavor, its high levels of polyunsaturated (essential) fatty acids, and its low levels of saturated fatty acids and linolenic acid. It is well known that linolenic acid is especially susceptible to oxidation, which leads to rancidity. Another important free fatty acid present in corn oil is the oleic acid. The oleic acid is a monounsaturated , associated with decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure reducing effects, decreased risk of breast cancer, etc. Maize oil can be found in foodstuffs or used in chemical industry and less commonly in pharmaceutical industry.

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